Headhunters/Recruiters? (Portland: crime, headhunter, home)

[phel]

Hi there,

So much useful information in these forums.

My husband and I are hoping to move to Portland in the near future and I wondered if there were any reputable headhunting firms or recruitment firms that operate there?

I've been searching Monster for openings in my field (executive assistant currently working in venture capital & private equity) and haven't seen anything even remotely related.

Just wondering if there were some job-seeking resources that only the locals know about.

We don't bite, I swear!

Thanks very much.

[hamellr]

Yes, I wrote up such a list a couple of years go while I was looking for myself.

You can find the complete list here, but I'd recommend Accountemps, Kelly Services (keep on them every two weeks though,) and K-Force. I do not have any experience with any of the other companies.

[Nell Plotts]

Since you are working for a VC now I recommend you start to network their Portland counterparts. As you doubtless know admin assistant jobs in that industry are the result of networking.

Without knowing the culture of your firm I don't know if it is appropriate to confide in your CFO that you desire to move to Portland. VC/Private Equity CFOs have a professional association. Your CFO may be willing to give you a few names up here to contact. CFOs on Sand Hill Road talk to one another so do not assume that a comment you make to someone up the street won't get back to your office. Also, the CFO may feel obligated to share with the partner(s) you serve.

Oh, need I say that you probably won't be able to find the same salary here.

[phel]

Thank you, hamellr and Nell.

I'm aware that salary will be a bit less. This is the combination of wanting a better quality of life for my husband and I (LA, the culture, the commute, and the crime are making us insane) and the fact that my position here may be winding down.

To break it down: I was brought in a little over a year ago to support two very busy Managing Directors who have since left the firm. I've been kept on, graciously, and they've given me a new executive to support, however my workload is waning and I crave the stimulation that comes from being busy and having multiple execs relying on assistance. The firm is not expanding and there's little possibility of growth.

My husband is self-employed and works from home and so we're not tethered to LA. I'm a Canadian who recently immigrated to the US to be with my American husband and I'm craving a smaller but still metropolitan city, with good public transportation, little crime and affordable living. I spent a great deal of time in Vancouver, (BC, not WA,) and I think Portland would be right up our alley.

I have excellent references and could ask one of the MDs I used to support for a leg up, but I wanted to see what was available in general prior to starting networking; I hate calling in favours when they're not absolutely necessary.

Many thanks

[Nell Plotts]

Telling someone you trust that you are looking and asking them to keep their ears open isn't calling in a favor. With your circumstances putting out the word shouldn't be an issue. Your current CFO may assist you under the circumstances.

There are more VCs in Seattle than Portland, you shouldn't limit your search to Oregon.

What you need to find is an executive headhunter well connected in Portland and Seattle. Unfortunately I don't know any.

[Deezus]

Originally Posted by hamellr

Yes, I wrote up such a list a couple of years go while I was looking for myself.

You can find the complete list here, but I'd recommend Accountemps, Kelly Services (keep on them every two weeks though,) and K-Force. I do not have any experience with any of the other companies.

I did well with Aerotek recently--as they got me a good job with BPA(Bonneville Power Administration).

For the month I worked at Intel as a contractor before leaving for another job everyone seemed to be going through Kelly Services.

[pzrOrange]

do you currently work with a recruiter from your area? get in contact with them, tell them that you are hoping to relocate to Portland and ask if they have any contacts in PDX... more often than not, they would.

[phel]

Thank you all